6th-grader back in school despite genes

PALO ALTO

Updated 8:48 am, Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Officials relented after ordering Colman Chadam to change schools. They feared that a gene could put schoolmates with cystic fibrosis at risk.

Officials relented after ordering Colman Chadam to change schools. They feared that a gene could put schoolmates with cystic fibrosis at risk.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

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Colman Chadam's parents had volunteered the information that a test at birth had revealed a quirky gene combination linked to cystic fibrosis, though Colman does not have the disease.

Colman Chadam's parents had volunteered the information that a test at birth had revealed a quirky gene combination linked to cystic fibrosis, though Colman does not have the disease.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

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Colman Chadmon (right) jumps on the trampoline with his brother Aidan (not pictured) in their back yard at their home in Palo Alto.

Colman Chadmon (right) jumps on the trampoline with his brother Aidan (not pictured) in their back yard at their home in Palo Alto.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

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Colman Chadmon(right) is seen in his room with his brother Aidan at their home in Palo Alto.

Colman Chadmon(right) is seen in his room with his brother Aidan at their home in Palo Alto.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

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(Left to right) Jennifer, Coleman, Adian, and Jaimy Chadmon pose for a portrait in the backyard of their Palo Alto home. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school because he has the genetic markers for cystic fibrosis and the school doesn't want him near another student who is already there with CF.

(Left to right) Jennifer, Coleman, Adian, and Jaimy Chadmon pose for a portrait in the backyard of their Palo Alto home. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school because he has the genetic markers for

Colman Chadmon (right) is seen in his room with his brother Aidan on Tuesday, October 10th, 2012 in their home in Palo Alto. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school because he has the genetic markers for cystic fibrosis and the school doesn't want him near another student who is already there with CF.

Colman Chadmon (right) is seen in his room with his brother Aidan on Tuesday, October 10th, 2012 in their home in Palo Alto. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school because he has the genetic markers

Colman Chadmon plays football with his brother Aidan (not pictured) in front of their home. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school in Palo Alto, CA because he has the genetic markers for cystic fibrosis and the school doesn't want him near another student who is already there with CF.

Colman Chadmon plays football with his brother Aidan (not pictured) in front of their home. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school in Palo Alto, CA because he has the genetic markers for cystic

Colman Chadmon (left) plays football with his dad, Jaimy Chadmon, and his brother Aidan in front of their home. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school in Palo Alto, CA because he has the genetic markers for cystic fibrosis and the school doesn't want him near another student who is already there with CF.

Colman Chadmon (left) plays football with his dad, Jaimy Chadmon, and his brother Aidan in front of their home. Colman has been asked to leave his middle school in Palo Alto, CA because he has the genetic

Colman Chadmon (right) jumps on the trampoline with his brother Aidan at their Palo Alto home.

Colman Chadmon (right) jumps on the trampoline with his brother Aidan at their Palo Alto home.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

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6th-grader back in school despite genes

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After missing 11 days of class, Colman Chadam has been allowed to return to his Palo Alto middle school after convincing district officials that they didn't need to worry about a couple of genes in his DNA.

On Monday, district officials and Colman's family announced a settlement, which revoked a forced transfer to another district school and allowed the 11-year-old to return to his sixth-grade class last week.

A month ago, Palo Alto Unified administrators told Colman and his family that he must transfer out of Jordan Middle School, believing that his genetic mutations related to cystic fibrosis posed a risk to other students at the school who have the disease's often-fatal lung condition.

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The case gained national attention and raised ethical and safety questions about student medical information and care.

Colman doesn't have and has never had any symptoms of cystic fibrosis, his parents argued - just an inherited combination of quirky genes connected to the disease.

He has had a negative sweat test, which is used for diagnosing cystic fibrosis. And he doesn't require treatment or any special accommodations.

Experts debate

Whether he "has" the disease given his specific genetic mutations or is just a carrier is up for debate among experts.

So on district enrollment forms and out of an abundance of caution, James and Jennifer Chadam disclosed their son's genetic information - obtained during a newborn screening.

The district ultimately used that voluntarily provided information to send Colman, a newcomer to the district this fall, three miles away from his new friends and teachers.

While the disease is not contagious, those with cystic fibrosis can carry bacteria that can be dangerous to people with the same disease. Non-siblings are advised to stay at least 3 to 6 feet away from each other.

Because Jordan Middle School had other students with the lung disease, district officials argued the zero-risk option was to send Colman away.

His parents took the district to court.

After delaying a scheduled hearing, in late October, the two sides negotiated a settlement that allowed Colman to return to Jordan. He remained at home until the two sides reached a settlement.

Colman's case was the perfect storm involving the benefits and problems with genetic screening, said the Chadams' attorney, Stephen Jaffe.

"I think Colman going to back to school is a victory for common sense," Jaffe said Monday.

Switching classes

Colman agreed to switch classes to ensure that he and the two siblings with cystic fibrosis do not come into contact or share facilities with one another - protocols his parents said they didn't feel were necessary, but that alleviated remaining concerns about his and the other students' health.

Because research and information about cystic fibrosis is still evolving, Colman's case presented a unique challenge to the district.

"The recent case involving students with cystic fibrosis was challenging on many levels," said Charles Young, Palo Alto Unified associate superintendent. "After careful consideration, which included further consultation with a medical expert, the students are attending the same school, and the (district) is following the recommendation of implementing cystic fibrosis cross-infection protocols."

Colman is settling back into school with his new teachers and classmates, his mom said Monday.

"This has taken a toll on him; it really has," Jennifer Chadam said. "I still have a lot of anger about how it went down."

Colman's parents hope the district will reflect on and learn from the process.

"He is a funny, artistic kid. I felt (the forced transfer) was going to change the course of his life," she said. "That's why we fought so hard. We knew we were right."

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